I've had my heart set on a Gibson/Epiphone Thunderbird (I know not a very metal bass, but I like the shape). My question is should I get the relatively inexpensive Epiphone version, which some say play as well as the Gibson, but I'm very hestitant to believe it, or save up for the thousand some odd dollar Gibson?

Much thanks.

Get the Epi. The minimal sacrifice in quality (if any) is certainly worth the drop in price.

I got a Bridgecraft (fender knockoff) on ebay for around 93$, and there was a flood of them still on there last time I checked. It came with a carrying case, pick, and ampcord as well.

I own a six-string Washburn XB-600 Bantam series bass guitar, with two neck-through thumb pick-ups, 20-something frets, three-knob adjustment, and a dark charcoal gray weave-like finish.

One 400-W Peavey Black Widow series bass amp cabinet, powered by an SWR (not exactly sure which series) head. I plan to invest on making it into a fullstack, albeit more assets.

There are many decent beginner basses for that price.

I think the best bass for that price is the ESP B50 or the Yamaha RBX170.

If you can't find the ESP, get the Yamaha.

Anyone know a place where to get a good cheap bass for learning?

Musician's Friend.com is running a special on beginner basses, also look at the post above yours.

I've been playing bass for about a week doing mostly exercises about an hour to an hour a half a day and im improving slowly, but consistently. Are there any songs i should learn? open to all suggestions

Get guitar pro (if you havent yet) and try the following:

The Pixies - Hey
Dream Theater - I Walk Beside You (not a very hard song. if it's too fast slow the tempo... and I assume you dont have a 6 stringer, so just dont play that little part at the end when he uses the two high strings)
My Dying Bride - I Am The Bloody Earth & The Cry of Mankind

That game is addicting as hell.GP2 is sick as fuck,It has Dethklok's "Thunder Horse" as a bonus.


Try learning some old Nirvana,I suggested that to a friend and he swears it is the best to start off on.

He should also try and play Judas Priest's Breaking The Law. It developed my speed a bunch, and now I use it as a warmup for my right hand...

Greetings, just wondering if anyone here plays notation. I just started learning it this Monday, I think it's all worth it so that I can play the Textures solo by Cynic that I found some where..

And here's what I'm getting for graduation:
http://www.schecterguitars.com/spec.asp?id=111#

SOOOOO looking forward to that, played the fretted version a month or so ago and it played beautifully, and the fretless that I'm getting should be no different, if better.

Question for people who play with 3/4 fingers...
You always play in a strict order of fingering? like, 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3? or you mix it depending on the song?
Because I find it extremely uncomfortable to play like multi-stringed stuff with like 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3. If it's on one string or maybe two, then I can still do it, but otherwise when I have something like

E---3----------------------------3------------------------------3
A-------5------------5-----5--------5---------------5-----5-----
G--------------7------------------------------7------------------
D-----------4-----4-----4---------------4-------4-----4--------

(From Bach's Suite 1 In G Major)

I have a really hard time playing it with 3 fingers.

Any advice?

Did you try playing it slowly, and gradually speed up as you go?

Yes, I can play the whole thing in the normal tempo (50 bpm) with two fingers, and I tried to get it even to 25bpm and couldnt play it right (with the normal 1-2-3-1-2-3 fingerpicking). My question is, do you play it in the normal order, or do you use the third finger only when you need to?

Play in order, to keep a steadier rhythm as you would with the occasional two fingers.

My friend also told me a better picking order would be 1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-3 etc. I still cant see how it's possible to keep ANY order on multi-string-ed parts, but I'll try. Thanks for your advices too Misanthrope.

No problem. But, sadly, this isn't something you can learn overnight.

I play it like this: 1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1 etc

LOL

Isn't that game called Guitar Hero?

As for playing with 3 fingers I can play either 3-2-1 or 1-2-3. When playing something fast with 3 fingers on one string I normally go like 3-2-1, also I kind of hit the strings when playing in such manner. Before starting to play, you lift your 3 working fingers up and to start you make a sharp move with which you put the fingers to the strings and immediately you go 3-2-1 with your fingers, if it is done properly it will help to accentuate the beginning of the beat.
When playing 5 fingers I can use them randomly.

I'm going to be picking up a Cort Curbow fretted four string ($350.00) for Christmas (which I am going to help pay for). I played it and its tone is downright magnificent.

Anyone know anything about Corts, just so I know I'm not making a bad decision?

I played Cort bass once on a rehearsal, sounded very good. Also I thought it to be comfortable.

are bc rich warlocks any good? im thinking about getting one but my friend tells me they look cool but sound too popish and are shitty basses for metal. i would have to try out the bass at a local shop but i dont want to waste my time doing that if you guys could tell me if there good or not.

Better try it yourself. Tastes and opinions differ.

I have a bc rich warlock bass platinum, and i would say that i like it quite alot, i don't understand why people would think that warlock basses suck...
Btw I would like to know from you pros here how do you actually learn metal songs especially dm songs, because my ear isn't that good, is there any way to improve.
And also for bass strumming, 2 strings or 3 strings, how do you actually go doing it very fast?
Would really appreciate any help, really desire to improve...

I mean strumming without a pick of course...

Start with easy songs where the bass is audible, but relatively simple, stuff like Judas Priest, Motörhead, Black Sabbath or, if you you don't mind their music, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and soon you'll be able to transliterate more difficult stuff pretty accurately.

GAH I'm trying to adapt myself to playing stuff with 3 fingers... It's so hard! I get confused with the fingerpicking order (1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2...), even when I'm playing in really slow tempos.

For instance, I could play Bach's Suite 1 in G Major (I've mentioned it here quite alot, look it up it's a great piece) in normal tempo (50bpm) with two fingers, but I get seriously confused while trying to play it with three, on 25bpm tempo!

Argh, annoying.

SCMugen - I have some tips for playing 1-2-3-2-1.
I had trouble with this for awhile, but theres a thing that really helped me out. Think about it as playing with your middle finger and then your index finger, and then your middle finger and ring finger. This may be a bit hard to understand, but it worked for me.

Okay, so I have a Fender Rumble 15 bass amp, its okay for in house playing and practice but eventually im gunna want get something for the next level

any recommendations?

Hughes And Kettner - Bass Kick, not Bass Force, I actually doubt if they still produce them. Ampeg's BA 112 or 115 are also good and relatively inexpensive.
By the way I added some more recording to my homepage ( http://thehellpatrol.googlepages.com/ ). The stuff starting with Bass Jam #3 is the recently added one.

Get a Peavey Basic 112 (about 95 watts) $400.

i have been playing bass for about 2 years now and i can the play it well but i need to learn about music theory and song construction and i want a good book that will teach me this stuff. does anybody have any sudgestions on a bass book about that stuff that is leaning more towards metal. and i dont want the stuff to be too basic that i will have to go out and buy more books for a higher level of theory. any good books?

I've been trying to play some sort of trem-picked black metal stuff with my fingers and it's tough. I stumble when i skip from string to string. Does anybody know any excersices to help?

Thanks.

Need a cheap, large bass amp.

I saw a Behringer 450 Watt Combo at Guitar Center for $235.00, but someone's probably already bought it since I last checked. If someone has, any suggestions on what I should get?

I like fretless. Gives it a good sound, especially in epic metal ballads.

I just read that.Now I'm wondering what kind of crack I was smoking.

i just got the guitar pro version, having been playing other stuff by bach and beethoven, classical stuff isnt really a good idea for 3 finger playing. 3 finger playing is in my opinion more for tremolo styled material.